Born from Tokyo’s Vibrant Music Scene
The story of PHONON begins with a fateful meeting between founder Isao Kumano and DJ/producer Alex Prat (Alex from Tokyo) in the late 1990s. The two met through Tokyo’s legendary record shop "Mr. Bongo" and connected over their shared passion for music.
"Tokyo in the late '90s was booming with dance music," they recall. "There were tons of great parties—it was a thrilling time." Shibuya, in particular, was considered the best place in the world to dig for vinyl.
Kumano, a mastering engineer, has worked on numerous hit tracks for top-charting artists, while Alex has DJ’d and produced across global scenes from New York to Berlin. It was this blend of studio precision and club culture that set the foundation for PHONON.
Founding PHONON – Reproducing Studio Sound Through Headphones
Launched in 2009, PHONON was created with one mission: to deliver the artist’s original imagination with accuracy. Initially focusing on speakers and acoustic accessories, Kumano shifted toward headphone development, believing it could reach a broader audience.
While studio environments are built for optimal listening, headphones that truly replicate that quality were missing. PHONON set out to fix that—by creating headphones that reproduce studio-level sound.
Headphone Innovation – Unconventional Design for Professional Sound
Each PHONON headphone model features unique tuning. The engineering process defied convention—some even called it "mad." But the result was game-changing: the SMB-02 became known as the "Holy Grail of Headphones," earning praise from the New York Times and winning global audio awards.
SMB-02 Subtonic Monitor Basic Headphones [PHONON]
Top musicians like Jeff Mills and Depeche Mode rely on PHONON, while models like the 4400—engineered for deep bass in a compact frame—have become favorites among DJs and fashion creatives.
"We designed the 4400 to reproduce club-quality bass. Thanks to Alex’s global presence, it gained traction in New York, Berlin, and beyond."
All PHONON products are crafted with original internal architecture and precision tuning, ensuring each model has a distinct sound signature.
4400 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones [PHONON]
Why Pros Choose PHONON
PHONON has earned the trust of world-class artists and engineers.
"Jeff Mills has been using our headphones for over a decade—he now uses the SMB-01L. Ken Ishii is also a fan, along with classical musicians like Akira Inoue. They say other headphones make recordings sound cheap, but with PHONON, they hear the sound exactly as they recorded it."
PHONON’s popularity grew not through advertising but word of mouth. "Tokoro George even introduced our product on his show Setagaya Base, and Noritake Kinashi from Tunnels is also a user," says Kumano.
Looking Ahead – Headphone Live Shows & Expanding Musical Experience
PHONON is now exploring new ways to experience music—like headphone live events.
"We’re planning headphone-only live shows, inspired by legendary experiments by Eiichi Ohtaki. A DJ headphone live set is also coming to NAMM Show."
They’re also targeting younger listeners as the global interest in high-quality sound grows.
"More young people are embracing analog records and proper speakers. As the world starts caring more about sound, PHONON wants to lead that movement."
A Message from PHONON – For Those Who Truly Listen
"PHONON headphones aren’t just listening devices—they’re tools to convey the true sound intended by artists and engineers. We’ve made it this far thanks to the support of people who care deeply about sound.
Delivering the best sound—that’s our mission, and we’ll keep pushing forward."
CHECK PHONON HEADPHONES NOW!
